World Cup: Can Spain defend their title of being the Champions?

New Delhi: The biggest quadrennial soccer extravaganza is going to start in Brazil within less than forty five days. One of the teams that will be closely watched upon will be the defending champions Spain. The team which is going through a golden period starting from 2008 will look to extend the run. The country which was able to remove the tag of underachievers in the 2010 world cup . But perhaps the 2014 World Cup will be a tournament too far for Spain. That side which under the guidance of Luis Aragones showed that Spain can compete against and beat the best, smashed through what had previously been the 'glass ceiling' of the quarter-finals to lift the European title.It was as if Spain had finally grown up and despite Aragones' replacement by Vicente Del Bosque, Spain have gone on to win the 2010 World Cup and then retain their European title in 2012 -- something no other side in history has been able to do.It has been six years of unparalleled success, led by a generation of footballers like Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Iker Casillas, Xabi Alonso and David Villa.Del Bosque's great talent has been to know that when something worked he didn't need to tinker with it as his players had the talent and the style to take the team to glory.There are few question marks over who will be first choice goalkeeper for Spain in the World Cup -- the cruciate knee ligament suffered by Victor Valdes leaves Casillas as the only candidate. Casillas may have a weakness on crosses into his penalty area, but compensates by lightning reflexes and speed off his line. The fact that he has not been first choice for his club in the league has not stopped him performing well in Europe and the King's Cup.Spain will be without the talismanic Carles Puyol in Brazil. After 100 international appearances, Puyol's ageing knees have finally given up, robbing Spain of a never-say-die defender. Alvaro Arbeloa will also miss out through injury, meaning Del Bosque has to look for solutions, the most likely of which given his conservative nature will be to partner Pique with Sergio Ramos in central defence, with Cesar Azpilcueta on the right and Jordi Alba on the left.Spain's dominance has been built on their midfield maestros Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Xabi Alonso and on paper they will once again make a formidable quartet. Diego Costa will play. That is just about the only certainty regarding the attack Spain will kick their World Cup defence. The fact that Costa rejected his homeland Brazil in order to represent Spain is likely to make him No.1 public enemy for the Brazilians.Finally, although David Villa, the highest scorer in Spain's history, has had a decent season at Atletico Madrid, he is another veteran whose best years are almost certainly in the past.Spain's chances in the World Cup would not be complete without a look at their rivals. They have a tough group and kick-off their campaign against the Netherlands, the side they beat in the 2010 final.